By Melissa Meehan
There’s a revamped playground at Central Gardens, Hawthorn, known by many as ‘Rocket Park’.
The new space-themed playground design is officially open to the public after the much loved 1960s original rocket slide was taken away during the revamp.
It has added new life to the popular playground, which includes new and renewed play equipment, nature play opportunities, shade, improved accessibility and new landscaping.
The new playground is centred around the rocket, and utilises the theme of space exploration to create a playful narrative that supports this much-loved play piece.
Key features of the new design include a renewed rocket that has stood the test of time and holds strong connection to ‘days gone by’ and new ‘traditional’ equipment such as monkey bars and a combination play unit combined with a partly accessible ‘mission control centre’ inspired ‘Mars landing terrain exploration’.
It has with mounds, tunnels, rocks and craters for balancing, clambering and hopping challenges for all ages, a water play zone and a variety of swings for young and old.
